Hall calls for relief from cost of heating oil

TOWN OF NEWBURGH — John Hall joined a growing chorus of House Democrats Tuesday demanding action from Washington to stave off “severe hardship” caused by high heating oil prices this winter.

Christine Young

TOWN OF NEWBURGH — Rep. John Hall joined a growing chorus of House Democrats Tuesday demanding action from Washington to stave off "severe hardship" caused by high heating oil prices this winter.

Hall urged Congress to pass the Home Energy Affordability Tax Relief Act, a bipartisan bill he co-sponsored that would give a $500 tax credit for households spending more than $1,500 on heating oil.

"It's criminal what's happening with oil prices," said Hall, noting there was "good news" that prices had just dropped to $118 a barrel.

"I never thought I would say I can't wait till it hits $100," he quipped.

Home heating oil prices in the Hudson Valley averaged $4.57 a gallon Tuesday, more than 71 percent higher than a year ago, Hall said, noting the average home heating oil bill is projected to jump by $882 this winter.

The proposed tax credit would apply to families earning $100,000 or less a year, and single taxpayers earning less than $50,000. It would phase out at incomes of $110,000 a year for families and $60,000 for singles.

"Virtually every household in this part of the country will be directly affected by this," Hall said. "Party politics should not stand in the way of a good idea."

Hall also called on President Bush to release 70 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, an emergency supply created in 1975 in case unexpected physical conditions disrupt either crude oil imports or domestic production.

"The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is 97 percent full, the fullest it's ever been," Hall said, pointing out that the SPR was tapped in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina struck.

"We're in more of a crisis right now as a country than we were during Hurricane Katrina," he said. "Our seniors and people on fixed incomes are in a worse crisis today, unless they happen to live in Louisiana or Mississippi."